We’re back in first! This was a true nail-biter, as the teams exchanged blows from the fourth inning on. Both teams also had bases-loaded chances that came up short, and both teams got big home runs from last year’s two biggest home run hitters. Kazuma Okamoto’s sixth-inning bomb was a dagger through the hearts of…
Nothing went well for the Tigers on this night, outside of the bottom of the fifth inning. The pitchers gave up a season-worst 17 hits to the worst-hitting team in the Central in one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in the Central. Many of the defenders, though not charged with errors, did not make plays…
Shintaro Fujinami has been trying for much of this season to prove that he is worthy of a spot in the rotation. He did little to win over the coaching staff on this night, giving up two runs in the first, loading the bases in the second, and giving the lead right back to the…
With the Giants winning earlier in the day, the Tigers needed a W to stay at the top of the standings. Starter Akira Niho did not get things off to a very good start with a couple of walks and an RBI hit… but he settled in, and the bats took over from the second…
Joe Gunkel was having himself a game for the ages. The second-year American hurler, who says he is more of a contact pitcher than anything, struck out ten and scattered just three hits (one a solo home run) over seven innings. He left with the game tied, and no one could have possibly imagined a…
I’m not sure if you all followed my guide and did your part, but fans across Japan (and around the world) made their wishes known, and the result is seven… SEVEN Hanshin Tigers getting voted into the All-Star games, which will take place on July 16 and 17 (Saitama & Sendai, respectively). Keep in mind…
All that waiting to go to a baseball game, and this is what I’m treated to? Three innings in which we get guys on base, all of which got squelched by a double play. Thirteen hits against, including a home run. One error (that led to a run). Three mid-inning pitching changes while I insist…
The Tigers had a seven-game lead over the Giants heading into this weekend tilt. They put seven runs up on the scoreboard in the first one-third of the game, pushing their winning streak to seven and shoving the Giants down into third place. But we all know that there is still plenty of season left,…
What on earth happened on Saturday night? How did these two teams, who combined for 34 runs on Friday and Sunday, manage one measly run on a solo homer? That’s baseball for you. Rookie Shoki Murakami did not have the debut he hoped for, but the Tigers fought tooth and nail to make sure they…
I’m pretty sure most Tigers fans were thinking the same thing as I was heading into this weekend series. Even in the worst-case scenario, we will return to Kansai in first place. Given the team’s recent history at Tokyo Dome, it is hard to blame fans for fearing the worst but hoping for the best….